Ergonomic stackable watering can

ABSTRACT

An ergonomic stackable watering can for watering plants and flowers for example comprises a tapered reservoir having a peripheral wall, a bottom and a top opening defining a top edge of the wall, a spout extending from the reservoir so as to be in fluid communication therewith, and a handle mounted to the reservoir over a tapered hollow stem which is mounted to the bottom of the reservoir so as to extend therefrom about a hole in the reservoir. The peripheral wall further includes an enlargement for receiving a portion of the spout of a similar watering can when the watering cans are assembled in a stack. The handle of a first watering can is inserted in the stem portion of a second watering can when two such watering cans are stacked.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to watering cans. More specifically, the present invention relates to watering cans which are easily stackable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

One-piece or multi-piece watering cans, for watering plants and flowers for example, and resulting from a molding process have been known for many years.

A problem with such watering cans, especially for those of the large volume type, is the space they require for transporting, stocking and displaying, which often also result in higher costs.

A solution to the above-mentioned drawback has been to design watering cans which are stackable. However, current stackable watering cans are in the form of an assembly of mountable parts. In addition to resulting in an imperfect stackable product which is still cumbersome, such an assembly yields higher manufacturing costs and the lack of ergonomics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stackable watering can according to a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the spout cover both mounted onto the spout and removed (in dash line);

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the stackable watering can from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the stackable watering can from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of two stackable watering cans from FIG. 1 illustrated in a stack;

FIG. 5 is an isolated perspective view of a spout cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a stack of two watering cans according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to such embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more.

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a stackable watering can comprising:

a reservoir defined by a bottom and a peripheral wall that extends from the bottom to a free edge of the peripheral wall; the free edge of the peripheral wall defining a top opening of the reservoir; the reservoir being tapered along a first direction generally perpendicular to the bottom; the bottom of the reservoir having a hole therein; the peripheral wall including an enlargement at the opening;

a hollow stem extending from the bottom of the reservoir, about the hole therein, to near the top opening of the reservoir; the hollow stem being tapered along the first direction;

a handle extending over the hollow stem; and

a spout extending from the reservoir so as to define an acute angle therewith and so as to be registered with the enlargement of the reservoir; the stackable watering can being a first watering can; the enlargement being configured and sized so as to receive therein at least a portion of the spout of a second watering can, which is similar to the first watering can, when the reservoir of the second watering can is inserted in the reservoir of the first watering can so as to arrange the first and second watering cans in a stack; the hollow stem of the first watering can being received in the hollow stem of the second reservoir.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an ergonomic stackable watering can 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The watering can 10 comprises a reservoir 12 defined by a rounded peripheral wall 14, a bottom 16 and a top opening 18, a spout 20 extending from the reservoir 14 so as to be in fluid communication therewith, a handle 22 mounted in the reservoir 12, and a spout cover 24 removably mounted to the spout 20 thereon.

According to the first illustrated embodiment, the watering can 10 is a one-piece body resulting from a molding process with the exception of the spout which is made independently. The reservoir 12 has a volume of about 7.5 liters (approx. 2 US gallons). A watering can according to a further embodiment of the present invention is configured and sized so as to contain another volume of liquid or fluid, which can be greater or smaller than six liters.

The peripheral wall 14 of the reservoir 12 extends from the bottom 16 of the reservoir 12 to a free edge 26, the free edge 26 defining the top opening 18.

The reservoir 12 is tapered along an axis 28 generally perpendicular to the bottom 16 thereof and has an oval cross-section which diminishes from the top opening 18 to the bottom 16.

One of the two longitudinal ends 30 and 32 of the oval-shaped peripheral wall 14 includes an enlargement 34. The enlargement 34 gradually increases from the bottom 16 of the reservoir 12 to the oval-shaped opening 18.

The reservoir 12 includes markings 36 on the inner surface of the wall 14 which are indicative of the equivalent volume of the reservoir 12 for different heights therein from the bottom 16. According to the first embodiment, the markings 36 result from the molding process and include a gradation line and a volume scale. Also, according to the first embodiment, the markings are registered with the enlargement 32. According to further embodiments (not shown), the markings are printed directly on the surface 14 or on a sticker affixed thereon. Also, the markings can have any form which is indicative of an equivalent volume or quantity of liquid or fluid in the can 10.

It is to be noted that the reservoir wall is not limited to the oval shape and can be for example rectangular or round.

The spout 20 extends upwardly from the upper portion of the reservoir 12 and more specifically from the enlargement 34 so as to be in fluid communication with the reservoir 12. The spout 20 is aligned and centered with a symmetrical axis 37 of the watering can 10. The spout 20 is further curved so as to define an angle with the bottom 16 which is gradually decreasing from the reservoir 12 to the distal end 38 of the spout 20.

The spout 20 has an opened top portion (not shown), which is an extension of the opening 18 of the reservoir 12, and a generally rounded v-shaped bottom 39 which is a continuation of the peripheral wall 14. The cross-section of the spout 20 varies along the length thereof. More specifically, the spout 20 has a cross-section which decreases, from the reservoir 12 to about the center thereof, and then begins to increase to a maximum at the distal end 38 thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 2, this results in the watering can 10 having a generally fish shape when viewed from the top, the reservoir 12 representing the body of the fish and the spout 20 representing its tail. According to another embodiment (not shown), the spout has another irregular cross-section or a regular cross-section along its length.

The removable spout cover 24 is configured and sized to snugly fit onto the spout 20 to force the water exiting at the distal end 38 thereof. For that purpose, the spout cover 24 comprises a cover portion 40 shaped to conform to the spout 20 so as to cover it, and a spreader portion 42, extending from the cover portion 40 integrally thereof for partially closing the opening defined by the spout 20 and the cover portion 40 when the spout cover 24 is mounted to the opened spout 20 so as to cause the water exiting the can 10 to spread.

When the spout cover 24 is secured onto the spout 20, the spreader portion 42 extends from the cover portion 40 so as to define an angle between −20 and +20 degrees with an axis (not shown) perpendicular to the bottom 16 of the reservoir 12. This angle is determined by the configuration of the spout 20 and cover portion 40 and/or by the desired shape of the water jet (not shown) exiting from the spreader portion 42 when it is positioned on the spout 20. It is to be noted that the shape of the water jet is also conditioned by the shape and size of the spout 20. It is to be noted that the expression “water jet” should be construed herein so as to comprise one or more jets of any liquid or more generally fluid.

The inner surface of the spout 20 is provided with a channel (not shown) adjacent the distal end thereof 38 for receiving the peripheral edge 41 of the spreader portion 42 therein. The channel further acts as a positioning guide for the spout cover 24 onto the spout 20. The channel is, for example, defined by the gap between two parallel extruded tracks. It can also be in the form of a groove in the inner surface of the channel. The cover portion 40 of the spout cover 24 includes a flange 43 provided with a lip (not shown) to cooperate with the top edge of the spout 20 in contributing to maintaining the spout cover 24 onto the spout 20 in a snap fitted way. To further help in the positioning of the spout cover 24, the free edge 26 of the wall 14 includes flange portions 49 each so positioned on a respective side of the enlargement 34 as to abut the flange 43 in a complementary way.

According to another embodiment (not shown), the top edge of the spout 20 is provided with a flange and the spout cover 24 includes a male portion to be received in the flange so as to secure the spout cover 24 onto the spout.

The cover portion 40 of the spout cover 24 includes a central recess 45 extending substantially along the length of the spout cover 24, which contributes adding flexibility to the spout cover 24 and tightness when thereto when mounted onto the spout 20. It has also been found that the embossed inner side (not shown) of the spout cover 24, which is of course a consequence of the recess 45 on the opposite side of the spout cover 24, contributes to increasing the pressure onto the liquid flowing through the spout 20.

At its proximal end 47, the cover portion 40 defines an angle ε with the bottom 16 of the reservoir. According to the first embodiment, this angle ε is between about 0 and 30 degrees. The length LG1 of the spout cover 24 is about between 0.75 and 1.20 of the distance LG2, which is a projection of the spout cover 24 onto a plane parallel to the bottom 16 of the reservoir 12 when the spout cover is positioned onto the spout 20.

The spreader portion 42 includes for example between about forty (40) to eighty (80) holes therein, each having a diameter of about 1 to 3 mm.

According to a further embodiment, the spreader portion 42 is provided with slits (not shown) instead or in addition to holes. The orientation of such slits can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or a combination thereof. Their sizes may also vary.

The spout cover 24 is so configured and sized that when it is mounted onto the spout 20, its proximate end 47 is positioned at a height H3 substantially equal to H2 which has been defined hereinabove.

According to a further embodiment (not shown), the spout cover 24 is irremovably mounted to the spout 20. According to still a further embodiment, the spout cover 24 is omitted.

According to another embodiment, the spreader portion 42 is mounted to the cover portion 40 so as to be distanced from the distal end 38 of the spout 20 when the spout cover 24 is mounted to the spout 20 thereon.

The spout cover 24 allows creating a pressure onto the liquid in the spout 20 and spraying jets (not shown) throughout the spreader portion 42 when the user pours a liquid or fluid out of the watering can 10.

The removability of the spout cover 24 allows using the watering can 10 can with or without it.

With reference now to FIG. 3, according to the illustrated embodiment, the ratio of the lowest point H4 of the spout 20 at the distal end 38 thereof to the highest point H1 of the spout 20 with the cover 24 at the distal end 38, both relative to the bottom 16, is between about 0.75 and 0.85.

The ratio of i) the longitudinal length LG2, representing the distance between the projection of the distal end 38 of the spout 20 in the plane including the bottom 16 and the peripheral edge of the bottom 16 nearest the spout 20 to ii) H1 is between about 0.5 and about 0.75.

The handle 22 extends from within the reservoir 12 and includes a generally rectangular stem portion 44 mounted to the bottom 16 of the reservoir 12 so as to extend generally perpendicularly therefrom, up to near the opening 18 of the reservoir 12, a first handle portion 46 extending from the stem portion 44 so as to define a first angle therewith, and a second handle portion 48 extending from the first handle portion 46 so as to define a second angle therewith. The handle 22 defines a single part which is integral to the reservoir 12.

The stem portion 44 is hollow and is defined by a recess in the reservoir wall 14 on the side thereof diametrically opposite the spout 20. The stem portion 44 is tapered along a direction defined by the axis 28 with a decreasing cross-section from the bottom 16 to the opening 18. The stem portion 44 is positioned about a hole 51 in the bottom 16. The diameter of the hole 51 and the decreasing diameter of the stem portion 44 with the handle 22 are such that the handle 22 and the stem portion 44 of a first watering can 10 can be received in through the hole 51 and in the stem portion 44 of a second watering can 10 when the second watering can 10 is positioned over the second watering can 10 in a stack relationship. For that purpose, the handle 22 is narrower the hole 51. According to the first embodiment, the handle 22 is also narrower the stem portion 44. More specifically, according to the first embodiment, the handle 22 is tapered along a direction parallel to the axis 28.

The single handle 22 serves the two purposes of i) allowing to lift the watering can 10 during transport thereof and ii) to pour the liquid therefrom (not shown).

The first handle portion 46 is defined by two opposite generally planar members 50 which are bridged at their lower end by the hollow stem 44 and at their upper end by the second handle portion 48.

With reference to FIG. 3, the second handle portion 48 defines an angle α of between 0 and about 30 degrees with the bottom 16. The distance between the bottom of the handle portion 48 and the top of the stem portion 44 is between about 7 and 14 cm.

The back of the first handle portion 46 relative to the spout 20 is slanted so as to define an angle β between about 0 and 30 degrees with an axis perpendicular to the bottom 16 of the reservoir 14. The front of the first handle portion 46 is also slanted so as to define an angle γ with an axis perpendicular with the bottom 16 between about 0 and 15 degrees. The front portion of the first handle portion 46 is closed from about half its height to the intersection with the second handle portion 48.

The second handle portion 48 has a U-shaped cross-section, yielding an ergonomically rounded lower surface portion 61. The edge-free smooth surface below the second handle portion 48 extends through the intersection between the first and second handle portions 46 and 48 and ends near the distal end of the stem portion 44. The edge of each of the planar members 50 is also rounded. Front and back cylinder arches 53 are provided between the planar members 50. In addition to improving the ergonomic of the handle 22, the front and back cylinder arches 53 define a gutter to drain liquid such as rain water from the second handle portion 48.

According to other embodiments, the first and second handle portions have other shapes and sizes providing ergonomically or non-ergonomically handling of the watering can 10 i) by the second handle portion 48 while carrying the can 10 and ii) together by the first and second handle portions 46 and 48 to ease pouring of a fluid (not shown) out of the can 10. For example the handle 22 may include a single straight member (not shown) that integrally extends from the stem portion 44 so as to define an acute angle therewith. Also, the first and/or second handle portions can have different cross-section than those illustrated.

According to another embodiment (not shown), the second handle portion 48 is further connected to the reservoir 12 through a third handle portion (not shown) which is connected to the reservoir 12 in the direction of the spout 20, such a handle thereby having an arch shape.

The handle 22 is integrally mounted to the reservoir 12 so as to be transversally aligned with the greater axis 37 of the reservoir 12 and therefore with the spout 20 diametrically opposite thereof. A watering can according to an embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a positioning of the handle 22. Indeed, a watering can according to a further embodiment (not shown) includes a handle which is distanced from the peripheral wall 14. According to still another embodiment, the first handle portion 46 is biased from the reservoir wall 14, the first handle portion 46 is rotated 180 degrees compared to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, and the second handle portion 48 extends from the first handle portion 46 in a direction opposite the spout 20. According to a more specific embodiment, the stem portion 44 is not defined by a recess in the reservoir wall 14. According to still another embodiment, the handle 22 is secured to the peripheral wall 14 so as to be suspended over the stem portion 44.

Also, according to a further embodiment, the handle 22 is assembled from a plurality of parts using glue, fasteners, or any other fastening means.

The watering can 10 can be made from only two parts, each resulting for example from a molding process, a first part being the reservoir 14 with the integral spout 20 and handle 22, and the second part being the spout cover 24.

As can be better seen from FIG. 2, the watering can 10 further includes a first mechanical stop 52, in the form of an element protruding from the bottom 16 integrally thereof and adjacent the stem portion 44 of the handle 22. The height of the stop 52 is such as to prevent another watering can 10 inserted therein in a stacked configuration as illustrated in FIG. 4 to get stocked therein. As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the protrusion 52 can be distanced from the bottom 16 and be maintained at the appropriate distance therefrom by its integral mounting to the stem portion 44.

Protruding elements 54 on both sides of the stem portion 44 are provided to serve a similar purpose than the first stop 52.

It is to be noted that the number, positioning and configuration of stops may vary than those illustrated so as to contribute preventing jamming of two stacked watering can 10. The mechanical stops 52 and/or 54 may also be omitted.

In operation, the watering can 10 is held by the handle 22 during its carrying or while pouring water or any other fluid that has been filled in the can 10 through its top opening 18.

More specifically, a user (not shown) lifts the watering can 10 by holding the second handle portion 48 of the handle 22. With one hand on the first or second handle portion 48 or 46 or with both hands, one on each one of the first and second handle portions 46 and 48, the watering can 10 is tilted so as to pour liquid out of the can 10.

The first handle portion 46 is mounted to the reservoir 12 via the stem portion 44 so as to naturally put the watering can 10 into an ergonomic pouring angle. The handle 22 further allows a user to move his or her hand from the second handle portion 48 to the first handle portion 46 during the watering process.

With reference now to FIG. 4, the watering can 10 and/or 10′ is configured so that two or more identical watering cans 10 and/or 10′ can be assembled in a stack. It is to be noted that different numeral references are used for the two watering cans 10 and 10′ only for clarity purposes and that these two watering cans 10 and 10′ are identical. The stacking of the watering cans 10 and 10′ in a stable manner is advantageous for example when a plurality of watering cans 10 are displayed for sell, stored or transported. Minimizing the space during any one of such activities allows lowering the price of the watering cans.

Two watering cans 10 and 10′ are stacked by inserting the tapered reservoir of the second watering can 10 in the tapered reservoir 12 of the first watering can 10′ with the hollow stem 44 (not shown in FIG. 4) of the first watering can 10′ inserted through the bottom hole 51 in the hollow stem 44 of the second watering can 10. The proximate end portion of the spout 20 of the second watering can 10 is inserted in the enlargement 34 of the first watering can 10′. It is to be noted that the watering cans 10 and 10′ can be stacked while their respective spout cover 24 is secured to the spout 20.

Even though only two watering cans 10 and 10′ are illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of such watering cans 10 can be stacked in a similar fashion. The number of watering cans 10 that may be mounted together in a stack depends on their size, geometry and material for example. It is to be noted that the stem portion 44 further has a rounded front side 56 in addition to be tapered so as to ease the above-mentioned stacking. An ergonomic watering can according to an embodiment of the present invention can also have a stem portion having another configuration, including without restrictions, a rectangular cross-section (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 5, which illustrates a second embodiment of a spout cover 58, the spreader portion 60 is removably mounted to both the cover portion 62 and the spout 20 therebetween. For that purpose, the cover portion 62 includes a channel 64 similar to the channel (not shown) in the spout 20 described hereinabove, for receiving the top peripheral edge 66 of the spreader portion 60. A swelling 67 is further provided onto spreader portion 60 below the top edge 66 thereof to better the attachment of the spreader portion 60 to the spout cover 58.

This arrangement of the spout cover 58 allows providing the watering can 10 with a plurality of spreader portion 60 (only one shown), each having a different arrangement or configuration of holes 68 therein. This also allows using the spout cover 58 with or without the spreader portion 60.

A watering can 70 according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 6.

Since the watering can 70 is similar to the watering can 10, only the differences between these two watering cans 10 and 70 will now be described.

Similarly to the peripheral wall 14 of the reservoir 12, the peripheral wall 72 of the reservoir 74 is tapered along an axis (not shown) generally perpendicular to the bottom 16 thereof and has an oval cross-section which diminishes from the top opening 76 to the bottom 16. The top portion of the peripheral wall 72 is slanted so that the portion thereof registered with the enlargement 78 and the spout 80 extends higher than the opposite side along the wider axis of the oval section.

The spout 80 is integral the reservoir 74 and extends upwardly therefrom from a position lower than the opening 76. The spout 80 has a cylindrical shape with a varying cross-section along its length.

FIG. 6 illustrate first and second watering cans 70 assembled in a stack, the second watering can 70 being positioned on top of the first watering can 70 therein. When is such an arrangement, a portion of the spout 80 of the second watering can 70 is received in the enlargement 78.

As discussed with reference to the first embodiment, the configuration and size of the handle 22, of the recipient and of the spout may be different than those illustrated while allowing a similar stacking arrangement of two and more watering cans 70.

Even though the watering cans have been described above as being made of plastic, other materials can be used, including without limitations, a metal such as aluminum, cardboard, laminated paper, wood, composite materials or a combination thereof. A watering can according to an embodiment of the present invention can therefore be the result than a manufacturing process different than =thing.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. 

1. A stackable watering can comprising: a reservoir defined by a bottom and a peripheral wall that extends from the bottom to a free edge of the peripheral wall; the free edge of the peripheral wall defining a top opening of the reservoir; the reservoir being tapered along a first direction generally perpendicular to the bottom; the bottom of the reservoir having an hole therein; the peripheral wall including an enlargement at the opening; a hollow stem extending from the bottom of the reservoir, about the hole therein, to near the top opening of the reservoir; the hollow stem being tapered along the first direction; a handle extending over the hollow stem; and a spout extending from the reservoir so as to define an acute angle therewith and so as to be registered with the enlargement of the reservoir; the stackable watering can being a first watering can; the enlargement being configured and sized so as to receive therein at least a portion of the spout of a second watering can, which is similar to the first watering can, when the reservoir of the second watering can is inserted in the reservoir of the first watering can so as to arrange the first and second watering cans in a stack; the hollow stem of the first watering can being received in the hollow stem of the second reservoir.
 2. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the spout having a bottom defining a channel that extends from the reservoir so as to be in fluid communication therewith and having a top opening which is an extension of the top opening of the reservoir; the spout having a side opening at its end opposite the reservoir and being tapered from its bottom to its opening; whereby, when the first and second watering cans are arranged in the stack, the spout of the second watering can being at least partially inserted in the spout of the first watering can.
 3. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 2, further comprising a removable spout cover which is shaped so as to conform to the spout.
 4. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 3, wherein the spout cover includes a cover portion to cover at least partially the top opening of the spout and a spreader portion so mounted to the top opening as to partially close the side opening of the spout when the spout cover is mounted onto the spout.
 5. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 4, wherein the spreader portion is removably mounted to the cover portion of the spout cover.
 6. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 5, wherein the spreader portion of the spout cover is a first spreader portion; the stackable watering can further comprising a second removable spreader portion; the first and second spreader portions having a unique arrangement of holes therein.
 7. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 4, wherein the cover portion of the spout cover includes a central recess extending substantially along its length.
 8. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the spout has a cylindrical shape.
 9. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the spout has a cross-section which varies along the length of the spout.
 10. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle is secured to the hollow stem.
 11. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle includes first and second handle portions; the first handle portion having opposite front and back sides wherein the front side facing the spout; the first handle portion is secured to at least one of the hollow stem, the peripheral wall of the reservoir and the bottom of the reservoir; the back side of the first handle portion generally defining a first angle with a first axis generally perpendicular to the bottom of the reservoir; the second handle portion extending from the first handle portion so as to generally define a second angle with the bottom of the reservoir.
 12. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 11, wherein the first angle is between about 0 and 30 degrees.
 13. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 11, wherein the second angle is between about 0 and 30 degrees.
 14. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle has an arch shape.
 15. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, which is one-piece.
 16. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, generally defining a fish shape when viewed from the top.
 17. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the reservoir defines cross-sections along an axis generally perpendicular to the bottom of the reservoir which have a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, rectangular and circular.
 18. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 17, wherein the cross-sections are oval-shaped; the oval-shaped cross-sections having small and large symmetrical axes, the handle and spout being positioned along the large symmetrical axis.
 19. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, wherein the reservoir has a volume of about 7.5 liters.
 20. A stackable watering can as recited in claim 1, comprising at least one mechanical stop extending from at least one of the bottom of the reservoir and the hollow stem for preventing jamming of the second stackable watering when first and second watering cans are arranged in the stack. 